DUBUQUE, Iowa — The University of Dubuque women’s soccer team defeated Central College 1-0 in the American Rivers Conference tournament semifinal on November 4, 2026, earning a place in the conference championship match for a second consecutive season.

Bree Swenson scored the match’s only goal in the 55th minute. Olivia Roth carried the ball down the right wing and delivered a cross to the edge of the penalty area, where Swenson collected it, shifted to her left foot and placed a shot into the left side of the goal. It was Swenson’s second game-winning goal of the season, and she led the Spartans with four shots.

The Spartans controlled the first half, registering 10 shots while limiting Central to a single attempt. An early corner kick in the third minute produced a powerful header from Sarah Thompson that was saved, and Maelyn Kluever nearly scored on a rebound in the 33rd minute, only to be denied again. Goalkeeper Samantha Jurgens preserved the scoreless first half with a diving save on a long-range shot.

Jurgens finished with five saves to record the shutout, supported by a back line of Chloe Westerfeld, Claire Husnick, Sarah Thompson and Chloe Breitbach.

The victory avenged the Spartans’ only conference loss of the season, which came against Central in the regular season. That earlier meeting featured seven goals between the two sides; the semifinal was decided by defense instead.

The University of Dubuque will host the American Rivers Conference championship match on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Oyen Field. The opponent will be Simpson College, which defeated top-seeded Loras College in a penalty shootout in the other semifinal. A start time for the championship match had not been announced as of November 5, 2026.